Community supported open hardware computers for makers

Tag: pocket nc

By Natalie Nelms Computer numerical control (CNC) milling machines have been around for decades. Most are industrial-sized, and are used create everything from the shaped trim on a house to the mechanical components of a space shuttle. Over the last decade, a large do-it-yourself community has emerged giving a new market to CNC milling machines as personal, rather than solely industrial applications. Matt, Michelle, Gary, Duane and Bannor from Pocket NC have always been tinkerers and enjoy pursuing projects from their homes. After searching long and hard for a personal desktop mill, Matt and his team turned to the Sitara-processor-based … Continue reading BeagleBone Black project spotlight: Pocket NC P5

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I just got back from a meetup of Machinekit developers hosted by Tormach, a maker of professional CNC machines. There I got a glimpse into the future of personal CNC machines and 3D printers. Building on the long successful LinuxCNC project, Machinekit has added support for additional platforms, including BeagleBone Black, and additional real-time Linux strategies, including Xenomai and stepper motor driving using the on-board PRU microcontrollers. What struck me is that software running on BeagleBone for controlling machines is the same as what CNC companies use in real (read expensive) CNC products… and it runs on some very remarkable … Continue reading Machinekit Meetup